Nitro-starch explosive.



unite with and render harmless the products of incipi- To all whom it may concem:

'sives, of which the following is a specification.

l pense when made by methods heretofore proposed for I have discovered that common commercial borax is a FFIQ.

JESSE B. BRAUNSTEIN. OF ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

NITRO-STARCH EXPLOSIVE Alo. 868,636.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, 907.

Application filed November 19, 1906- Serial No- 344,067.

Be it known that I, Jesse B. BRAUNSTEIN, a citizen oi the lUnitcd States. residing at Allentown, in the county of Lehighan State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Nitro-Starch Explo Myinvention relates in general to the manufacture of nitrated carbohydrates for use as explosive bases and its specific object ism produce for such purpose a stable and economical nitrd-starch.

Nitro-starch is well known to he a powerful explosive, but its commercial use heretofore has been small owfng ti) instability as ordinarily made and its high exrendering it stable. I have discovered however, a treatment which is inexpensive and at the same time results in satisfactory stability of the resulting explosive base.

It is generally understood that the instability of nitrostarch is due to the presence of impurities resulting iroro the nitratiom=these impurities being probably admixed lower nitrate: Stabilization is by some eifectedby washing 'or otherwise treating the nitrated starch with reagents intended to remove the impurities. I have discovered another method, that is to say, I mix into the nitrated starch areagent not for the purpose of removing the impurities but to remain in the mass and ent decomposition due to the presence of said impurities when said incipient decomposition takes place, and

suitable reagent for. said purpose. My explosive base is accordingly a mixture of nitro-starch and borax.

The nitro-starch may be prepared. by any of the known methods but preferably by one which will give the product as much inherent stability' as possible, before the stabilizing agent is added. I have successfully used as an acid mixture 33 to 36% nitric acid, 63 to 67 72 sulfuric; acid and 3 to 4% water, adding one weight oi the starch to four of the acid mixture. The nitrated product is washed in any suitable manner, water and weak solution 'of'ammonia accomplishing the object satisfactorily.

To nitro-starch properly prepared is added a suitable quantity of boiax. I prefer to use approximately 3% of borax, but much larger proportions may be used with the same result, and I do not limit myself to any specific proportions. The borax 'may be added in aqueous solution afterward driving off the water, or part may be added in aqueous solution and part in solid form or the entire amount of borai: may be added in solid form.

Other borates may be substituted for'borax', if desired,

with the same result. I prefer to use common commercial borax, however hecause of its cheapness.

It will'of course be understood that the stabilized nitro-starch mixture herein described is to be used as an explosive base, other usual ingredients being added in making up a commercial powder in the manner wellknown to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent is as follows:

1. An explosive consisting of'a mixture of nitro-starch and a borate the latter being added in such proportion as to stabilize the nitro-starch in substantially the manner described. I

2. An explosive consisting or a mixture of intro-starch and box-ax the latter being added in such proportion as to stabilize the ultra-starch in substantially the "manner described.

3., An explosive consisting of a mixture of nlli'o-starch with 3 to 5% of borax. I

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Jesse B. BRsUNs'rmN.

Witnesses Crunuzs H. HQWSON, Jos. H. KLEIN 

